‘Saving Face,’ despite sensitive topic, embraced in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD — The film “Saving Face,” which took home the Oscar for best documentary short subject Sunday night, highlighted revenge acid attacks against women in Pakistan. But it was widely lauded in a society that often bristles at criticism from outsiders.

Directors Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (L) and Daniel Junge, winners of the Best Documentary Short Subject for the film "Saving Face," pose with their Oscars. (MIKE BLAKE/REUTERS)

The film highlighted a “sensitive topic,” the president said, but took a positive approach by showing the work of a compassionate Pakistani surgeon and the dedication of women's advocates fighting the problem.

One Islamabad woman, Meher Naqvi, said she was so overjoyed when the award was announced that she ran to tell the news to her husband, while he was shaving.

“It's a matter of pride for Pakistan and the women of Pakistan,” she said. “It creates such a level of awareness people will feel about [acid attacks] and they will reach out to the victims.”

The Oscar came in a category that rarely captures attention beyond a subset of filmmakers. But for many Pakistanis, the award became a point of national pride akin to a cricket victory — but much more socially significant.

“It's a great day for Pakistan,” said Amjad Abbasi, an Islamabad restaurant manager. “I really appreciate it.”

Shah Sharahbeel, who runs a theater company, was less enthusiastic about the honor as he discussed the news with actors at an upscale coffee shop. “It's awesome, it's amazing, but it belittles Pakistan,” he said. “And anything that belittles Pakistan will get attention, especially in the Western world, especially in the U.S.”

Others savored Chinoy's Oscar win because it represented a rare piece of good news in an insurgency-wracked nation often equated with terrorism.

“The whole nation is proud of her,” TV host Sofia Jamal said on her evening talk show, “and in fact she has written a new chapter in Pakistan's history, giving the message to the world that still there are people here who are struggling for the betterment of society.”

Richard Leiby is a longtime editor and writer in The Post’s Style section. He joined The Post in 1991. His previous assignments have included Pakistan bureau chief and reporter, columnist and editor in Washington. He has reported from war zones, including Afghanistan and Iraq. He has written about four presidents, and he covered the Oscars twice.